Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Battle of the Heart (formerly untitled) ❯ Waiting for Fate ( Chapter 12 )

A/N: What can I say? Extremely late.

Disclaimer: I haven't owned them these past 11 chapters; I sure don't own 'em now.

"Waiting for Fate"

Wufei rested with his back against the tree trunk, sipping water from a clay cup slowly. His pride caused him to push aside the shaking of his frail hands and the numb feeling in his butt from hours of sitting on the wood flooring. He had been told it was three days since his fever broke, and that he should feel lucky to be alive. But right now, he could only focus on the near-unbearable pain in his torso, which sometimes would flare throughout his whole body, making him groan in spite of himself.

Since he had awoken, his companions had found it easier to rest and help out the 'phantoms,' when most of their time had been spent fretting over their fourth member. Wufei was grudgingly grateful of Quatre and Trowa, even though the enigmatic nature of their lifestyle begged question.

He was surprised to find that not only Sally, but also Duo and Hilde had also survived their latest ordeal. Since that mishap, they had made it their duty to assure that everyone was fashioned with a weapon. Their haste early on almost cost them their lives, although, in retrospect, he couldn't think of another way to have handled their escape.

Now, the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, providing a dusky, morning light. The other three men were out hunting, much to Wufei's chagrin. Hilde was awake, fussing around about nothing while Sally slept restlessly, curled on her side. Wufei couldn't help but notice her peaceful expression, since she was facing towards him, one arm outstretched. In the close confines of the platform, it would have been painfully easy to reach out and touch her hand, or her face. Perturbed by his observation, Wufei instead turned towards the raven-haired woman.

"Have the others mentioned a time when we'll be moving on?" he asked, setting the ceramic cup on the ground, hating how it clattered slightly with his weak hands.

If Hilde was shocked that he had spoken to her, she hid it well. "We haven't spoken of it. I assume we'll want to get moving as soon as we can. Possibly within the week," she told him, folding up a spare blanket and placing it in the corner. She wisely chose not to mention his weakened state, knowing how prideful he was. She added, "We found all of our horses. Two were killed, but the other two are in perfect health, though they're a bit spooked."

"With the horses we can get moving sooner," Wufei mused to himself aloud, leaning his head against the tree trunk. "Now, if only the days wouldn't pass so damn slowly."

Hilde smiled sympathetically. "Even with four horses we had about a three days' ride ahead of us before reaching King Peacecraft. But now that we're down to two horses, we'll most likely be on foot." She didn't bring up the fact that he would be the only one riding, while the other horse carried their supplies. It wasn't necessary, and he knew it was true, even if it wasn't acknowledged aloud.

Biting back his frustration, Wufei turned and gazed through the leaves of the trees, observing the sunlight as it peaked across the horizon and through the foliage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Prince Zechs was notorious for his stoical nature. He was an expert at schooling his features, keeping his countenance at a carefully neutral expression, never betraying a single thought or desire.

Lucrezia Noin, however, had known Zechs for far to long, and he was never able to hide secrets from her. She easily observed the storm raging behind his icy eyes, the unnatural clench in his jaw muscles, and the stiff manner in which he held his shoulders. Something was troubling her friend. Taking in his troubled form, she climbed up the castle wall beside him, swinging her legs so they were hanging over the edge next to his. Flagstone lay two stories beneath them, and Lucrezia was grateful for her immunity to the fear of heights.

"What's going on, Zechs?" she asked, keeping her voice soft. She knew how moody he could be when he was like this, and feared pushing him away, or making him close off to her. "My father's been so upset today, and everyone around the manner refuses to explain it to me." She paused. "What's happening?"

Zechs ground his teeth together, spitting out, "They won't tell you because you're a woman. It is not your business to know."

Lucrezia scowled, her delicate raven eyebrows drawing together on her face. "That's what they say, but you've never treated me like that. And I'd hate to think you're starting now." She scooted closer to him, until their shoulders were tenderly touching.

"But why do I treat you differently?

She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I like to think it's because you see us on equal footing where gender is concerned. It's true you are of royal blood and I am not, but you have never doubted my strength simply because I am a woman. I don't think you are capable of stooping that low."

Zechs sighed, a gentle breeze sifting through his silvery bangs. It was a wonder she hadn't pushed him off the wall, with his initial bitter attitude. Sometimes it seemed like she was the only one who could ever understand him, and that thought terrified him.

He said, "It's been heard that Lord Treize is preparing for another attack. He's gathering followers fast. People believe he is some kind of prophet, and it sounds like the Church is backing up these ridiculous claims."

Lucrezia let out an undignified snort. "The Church is corrupt."

The prince tossed her a wry smirk. "Don't let my father hear you say that." His tone sobered. "Treize's next target appears to be Lord Antwan."

Rather than appear surprised, she raised an eyebrow speculatively. "But my father's allegiance is to King Peacecraft. If he attacks my father, he would indirectly be attacking-"

"My father," Zechs interjected with a nod in his friend's direction. "Exactly. And there's no way for us to defend indirectly, so we would have to stage an assault against Lord Treize directly. My father's hope is that we can take him out of power for good, and place a new family in rule of his land."

"What about the Po manor?" she queried. "The land he just gained? Would that go to the new family, or be returned to Sally."

"That I don't know."

Lucrezia paused, pursing her lips in silence. She said, "But if Sally is making her way towards the castle for protection to regroup, and Treize is coming to attack…" She trailed off slowly, turning towards Zechs with wide eyes.

"We have to hope that Sally hurries," he said simply, knowing how hopeless it sounded. In her shocked state, Lucrezia almost didn't feel him slip his hand into hers and interlock their fingers warmly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Trowa looked towards the sky, his pupils contracting against the high noon sun. Quatre and Duo were up on the platform with Wufei, while Hilde and Sally tended to the two squirrels and one rabbit they had managed to catch that morning. While everyone else was occupied, Trowa took the time to fill the ceramic bowls up at the stream, his thoughts drifting back to his days as a performer.

His family had run a traveling circus troupe and his sister, Catherine, and him had always had a knack for performing. He had met Quatre when the blonde man's family had taken a visit to one of their shows. Quatre's father had been an extremely successful and wealthy merchant with a large family, though Quatre was the only son.

Whenever he thought about that day, Trowa's gut would wrench, and a deep rage would burn from within the cavity of his chest.

Treize chose that performance to attack, taking performers and spectators alike by surprise. Trowa's family had been slaughtered, and he had held his dying sister in his arms as she shuddered her last breath. Overcome by grief, he had been prepared to take Treize down himself, if he had to use his bare hands. Instead, he had found Quatre, surrounded by his dead family, tears welling up in his aquamarine eyes. The two men had fled the macabre scene in horror, vowing to exact revenge for the heinous wrongdoing.

The duo hid out in the forest, gathering information from the nearby city, preparing for the moment when Treize would be taken down. With feudal war humming through the air, their time seemed to be near at hand.

Shaking the lurid memories from his mind, Trowa finished gathering water, returning to the platform. With grace the man had inherited and learned, Trowa climbed the tree while balancing the water, never spilling a drop. As he joined the other three men on the wooden platform, he could almost swear by the way Quatre was looking at him that the other man knew what he had been thinking.

Soon, he thought.

Author's Note: I never imagined that school would be so much more time-consuming this year in comparison to last year. I have started typing once more, and will update either my Inuyasha story or SotP next. Hopefully this chapter will jump-start my momentum, and I'll get some more chapters out before Christmas.

Mama-sama: Thank you for all the nice reviews. I hope you haven't forgotten about this story in my lethargic updating. ^_^

Silver Magiccraft: This kind of defeats the purpose of 'update soon.' But I guess better late than never. (better never late…hehe)

sweetangel4: I'm glad you like it so far. Hopefully I can regain my momentum and make up for lost time.

Mercurial1: Thank you! ^_^

Callisto Nicol: You're right…Quatre and Trowa aren't simply helping them out of charity. This chapter kind of explains that, though. ^_^ Thanks for your reviews.

Chibi Tsuki: Thanks! I guess the lower class thing is a bit of a trend. It's not such a stretch between Noin and Zechs, though. ^^

emerald booky-chan: You've been checking every few days? Don't have a heart attack when it actually changes. ^_^

chibi noin: Thank you for your review! It gave me the kick that I needed to start typing again. ^^